New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-15
MAYOR WHITNEY 'TESTIFIES.
CONFIDENCE IN THE MEN HE APPOINTED.

MI THINKS THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW HAS BEEN
xrpr-wHAT COMMISSIONER PRESTON SAYS.
The investigation OF Brooklyn AFFAIRS W the bacon
Committee took new turn yesterday Inc ch'ei
,vit,es, was Mayor Whitney. 1t was evident that,
-h,,cver the ower behind the Mayors chair, tho
ocrupsnt of it is in a large degree lay figure
Corporation Counsel jerks earnestly pleaded to be
aloved to represent him counsel, ana there were
earnest consultations between " Boss icLaughhl::
jim shevl Tony barrett ana We se,s 'e snnt to
Judge Greene, one of the Democratic members OF
the committee. Mr.. jerks sat opposite the MaSor y,
and frequently sgnaled to him by nod OF shaAe "a
the head in regard TO his answers. - will. a..
Before ,nv questions were put to Mr. Whitney the
Corporation Counsel asked tnat IN me t t ~
fhe municipal departments he be allowed 10 ACT as
connsej Serious allegations he said, had oeeh isue
against the government of the city before the Legs
lsture not by any irresponsible person. pu' s ~ ~
,,atiye ~ the CITY in the Legislature. Inc city
suthorifies were really on trial and so had rght 10
be represented by counsel Ihs cry hs,n o
Questioned John E. Parsons, the leading counsel oi
the committee, said Mr. jerks had evidently misap-
pretended the position OF the committee and the Pnr
nose of the inquiry No person on tria for who
was tho accused and who the nccuserf IL counsel
allowed it would be denying the r'sn. Of .de
Legislature to investigate Mr. jerks couid 90
nothing so hostile to the investigation as 10 turn "
into trial The committee should have the AID OF
the Mayor and the CORPORATION Counsei ra.ner man
that they should act upon the defensive. MI jerks
again appealed to the committee but after prle1
conference all the members agreed that the notion 10
admit counsel be denied. - 49, -,
Mayor Whitney was then questioned by Edward NJ.
Shepard the junior counsel TIE first queries re-
lated TO the Civil Service Commission of which Mr..
Shepard Ia Democrat) a member under Mayor
Low. The Mayor was asked why 1t was that uhder
Schedule A, 10 the Civil List for 1887 there were
100 more names than III 1859, when only 1Vo aP-
peared: The Mayor said
am sure eau. except tina; the exgences OF fhe
public service made It O. sa.y e,emntsd from
Q.-Are the positions in Schedule "A eAeinP'e" iio"
examination A.-They are. ,-.-.,
: O. You do not know TIE reason Tor the lncfeasef
A. No than have said.
Tho Mayor could not tell why the number OF exempt
positions in the Police departments had increased from
to 80, and those i'll the CITY Works DeparSmeIhn
was asked to schedule the places he put them In
Schedule A.
Q.-An that are In that schedule had your approval
ALL had NV signature and approyai-thatis all
knew anything about
In regard appointing Democrats, the Mayor said
that when he could he would appoint d Democrat
THE increase of l4O policemen and So fremen in one
year made necessary he saG, Dy 'he laplu
growth OF the city. He did not think the increase 700
subjected TO competitive examinations, while the
Civil List said the contrary. lie thought born the
Truants Home and the Home tor lneorlaies sh9TLo
be under full control OF the city authorities The
arranement about telegraph poles between the Guy
and the companies had been made, he SAID, under
Mayor Low. and he did not think tbs intent OF the
law had been abused. or that the law had been
evaded. Ii any telephone wires had been placed on
Fire Department poles without me consent 1 o. 'ne
Returning to the Civil Service matter Mr. Shepard
got the MAYOR to acknow ledge that he fully trusted
his heads Of departments and believed that lheN
carried ont the letter and spirit OF the Cvll service
rules Everything ose being equal he would appoint
a Democrat instead of Republican. W hen The law
providng that political opinions should mol ne con
sidered ~ investigated in making appointments was
read to Ian til Mayor 6dgrted uncasily ana sald re
supposed IL law had been obeyed but was ard ioi
ii eads of departments 10 keep out oil tielr minus
the politics of appontecs II would be violation OF
the law to consider mans ponies put uc qua hp
believe the law had been violated In regard TO the
fact that the order of the ehghie lsts nae
not been followed in making appointments the NAY or
said he supposed that personal and not pOiucaI
reasons weighed in making appointments. Inc |
letter OF law, be affirmed. had not been disobeyed
aud he belize Ell all the heads OF departments were
doing trcr whole duty. If The law was violated lie
would take action 5000
William l. Pieston whom Mayor Whitney up
pointed chairman Of the Civil Service Commission. was
the next witness lie refused to reply to some qnes
tions and said they not of any importance lie
told hos the eligible lists were prepared. Out OF !
10Y officials in the city service who passed Compel
tive exam nations IfiN were war veterans Inc
rule was TO adv ali examinations. lie admitted
that the cxamnl on for the position OF jam or OF the
Municipal Building Ouly passed by one man, ahd
that the positiOnwas not technical one. Onlv one
man passed kce the pipe gard. some OF the
examua ions were only advertised short time before
.hey were held. Whether the la 7 had been complied
with In regard to advertising I'll the names OF men
appointed with those OF the men voucbing lOr tbein
last year, Mr.. Preston could not say. Last year
seventy examinations had been held.
Tic investigation will be confined ON friday
Nothing has yet done in regard to the witnesses
who reiused 10 answer Questions last week